Luke 20:20

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ παρατηρήσαντες, ἀπέστειλαν ἐγκαθέτους, ὑποκρινομένους ἑαυτοὺς δικαίους εἶναι, ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται αὐτοῦ λόγου, εἰς τὸ παραδοῦναι αὐτὸν τῇ ἀρχῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος.

Transliteration

And paratērēsantes, they apesteilan enkathetous, hypokrinomenous heautous dikaious einai, that they might epilabōntai him of logou, into the paradounai him to the archē and the exousia of the hēgemonos.

Grammar Details

• *paratērēsantes*: aorist active participle, nominative, plural - having watched closely
• *apesteilan*: aorist active, 3rd plural - they sent
• *enkathetous*: accusative, masculine, plural - spies
• *hypokrinomenous*: present middle participle, accusative, plural - pretending
• *heautous*: accusative reflexive pronoun - themselves
• *dikaious*: accusative, masculine, plural - righteous/just
• *einai*: present infinitive - to be
• *epilabōntai*: aorist middle subjunctive, 3rd plural - they might catch
• *logou*: genitive, masculine, singular - word/statement
• *paradounai*: aorist active infinitive - to deliver over
• *archē*: dative, feminine, singular - rule/authority
• *exousia*: dative, feminine, singular - authority/power
• *hēgemonos*: genitive, masculine, singular - of the governor

Word Meanings

• *paratērēsantes*: having watched closely/keeping a close watch/watching carefully
• *apesteilan*: they sent/they dispatched
• *enkathetous*: spies/informers/plants
• *hypokrinomenous heautous dikaious einai*: pretending themselves to be righteous/feigning to be sincere
• *epilabōntai autou logou*: catch him in word/trap him in speech
• *paradounai*: to deliver over/to hand over/to betray
• *archē*: rule/authority/domain
• *exousia*: authority/power/jurisdiction
• *hēgemonos*: governor/ruler/prefect

Referenced Verses

• Matt 27:2 : 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
• Luke 20:26 : 26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
• John 18:28-32 : 28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
• 2 Pet 2:3 : 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
• Mark 3:2 : 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
• Mark 12:13-17 : 13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
• Luke 11:54 : 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
• 2 Sam 14:2 : 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
• 1 Kgs 14:2-6 : 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 3 And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. 4 And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5 And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman. 6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.
• Ps 37:32-33 : 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh{H8764)} to slay{H8687)} him. 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn{H8686)} him when he is judged{H8736)}.
• Ps 38:12 : 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares{H8762)} for me: and they that seek{H8802)} my hurt speak{H8765)} mischievous things, and imagine{H8799)} deceits all the day long.
• Ps 66:3 : 3 Say{H8798)} unto God, How terrible{H8737)} art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies{H8802)} submit{H8762)} themselves unto thee.
• Ps 81:15 : 15 The haters{H8764)} of the LORD should have submitted{H8762)} themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
• Isa 29:20-21 : 20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: 21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
• Jer 11:19 : 19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
• Jer 18:18 : 18 Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
• Jer 20:10 : 10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
• Matt 22:15-22 : 15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.